A Baby's Hug

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.

Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, a s he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?'

Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.

My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had
propelled himself from my arms to the man.

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.

I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'

Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.'

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'

I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity.

The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me about Mark 10:15... "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.

God versus Science

'Let me explain the problem science has with
religion.' The atheist professor of philosophy
pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students
to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir,' the student says.
'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely.'

'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes'

'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The
Bible!' He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you.
Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can
cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'
'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed
person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But
God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues.
'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who
died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him.
How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent.

'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says.
He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to
give the student time to relax.

'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'
'Er..yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he?
Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did
make everything correct??'
'Yes'

'So who created evil?' The professor
continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil,
since evil exists, and according to the principle that our
works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer.
'Is there sickness? Immorality?
Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible
things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor
repeats his question. 'Who created them?'

There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer
breaks away to pace in front of the classroom.

The class is mesmerized.

'Tell me,' he continues onto another student.

'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?

The student's voice betrays him and cracks.
'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have
five senses you use to identify and observe the world
around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus,
tasted your Jesus or smelled your Jesus?
Have you ever had any sensoryperception
of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable,
demonstrable protocol, science says your God
doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that
is the problem science has with God. There is no
evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking
a question of His own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'

'Yes.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

No sir, there isn't.'
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.

The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student
begins to explain.

'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat,
mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no
heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'.
We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no
heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is
no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder
than the lowest -458 degrees.'

'Every body or object is susceptible to study when it
has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body
or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F)
is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only
a word we use to describe the absence of
heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in
thermal units because heat is energy.
Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the
absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the
classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a
thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation.
'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not
something; it is the absence of something. You can
have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but
if you have no light constantly you have nothing and
it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning
we use to define the word.'

'In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would
be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front
of him. This will be a good semester.
'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical
premise is flawed to start with, a nd so your
conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this
time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the
student explains.. 'You argue that there is life
and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You
are viewing the concept of God as something finite,
something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a
thought.'

'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen,
much less fully understood either one. To view death
as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that
death cannot exist as a substantive thing.
Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'

'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students
that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary
process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling,
as a very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of
evolution at work and cannot even prove that this
process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your
opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent
until the commotion has subsided.

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the
other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'

The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in
the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?'
The class breaks out into laughter.

'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the
professor's brain, felt the professor's brain,
touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one
appears to have done so. So, according to the established
rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says
that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.'

'So if science says you have no brain, how can we
trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at
the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man
answers.

'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'
'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact,
faith exists with life,' the student continues.
'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'

Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course,
there is. We see it everyday It is in the daily
example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude
of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These
manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist
sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is
simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold,
a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.
God did not create evil.

Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have
God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold
that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that
comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

The student was Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein did
write a book titled God vs. Science in 1921.


"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Days of the Week with God

Monday, Wash Day
Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and
Vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility
Through the week ahead.

Tuesday, Ironing Day
Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles
Of prejudice I have collected through the years
So that I may see the beauty in others.

Wednesday, Mending Day
O God, help me mend my ways so I will not
Set a bad example for others.

Thursday, Cleaning Day
Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults
I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

Friday, Shopping Day
O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase
eternal happiness for myself and all others In need of love.

Saturday, Cooking Day
Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly
Love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

Sunday, The Lord's Day
O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please
Come into my heart so I may spend the day and the
Rest of my life in your presence.

The Yellow Shirt

This is a forwarded email I received from a friend. Whether the story is true or not, I don't know. But the message it holds is one worth sharing.

--------------------------------------------

The yellow shirt had long sleeves, four extra-large pockets trimmed in black thread and snaps up the front. It was faded from years of wear, but still in decent shape. I found it in 1963 when I was home from college on Christmas break, rummaging through bags of clothes Mom intended to give away. 'You're not taking that old thing, are you?!? Mom said when she saw me packing the yellow shirt. 'I wore that when I was pregnant with your brother in 1954!'



It's just the thing to wear over my clothes during art class, Mom. Thanks!' I slipped it into my suitcase before she could object. The yellow shirt became a part of my college wardrobe. I loved it. After graduation, I wore the shirt the day I moved into my new apartment and on Saturday mornings when I cleaned.



The next year, I married.. When I became pregnant, I wore the yellow shirt during big-belly days. I missed Mom and the rest of my family, since we were in Colorado and they were in Illinois . But that shirt helped. I smiled, remembering that Mother had worn it when she was pregnant, 15 years earlier.



That Christmas, mindful of the warm feelings the shirt had given me, I patched one elbow, wrapped it in holiday paper and sent it to Mom. When Mom wrote to thank me for her 'real' gifts, she said the yellow shirt was lovely. She never mentioned it again.



The next year, my husband, daughter and I stopped at Mom and Dad's to pick up some furniture. Days later, when we uncrated the kitchen table, I noticed something yellow taped to its bottom. The shirt!



And so the pattern was set...



On our next visit home, I secretly placed the shirt under Mom and Dad's mattress. I don't know how long it took for her to find it, but almost two years passed before I discovered it under the base of our living-room floor lamp. The yellow shirt was just what I needed now while refinishing furniture. The walnut stains added character.



In 1975 my husband and I divorced. With my three children, I prepared to move back to Illinois . As I packed, a deep depression overtook me. I wondered if I could make it on my own. I wondered if I would find a job. I paged through the Bible, looking for comfort. In Ephesians, I read, 'So use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will be standing up.' (Ephesians 6:11-13)



I tried to picture myself wearing God's armor, but all I saw was the stained yellow shirt. Slowly, it dawned on me. Wasn't my mother's love a piece of God's armor? My courage was renewed.



Unpacking in our new home, I knew I had to get the shirt back to Mother. The next time I visited her, I tucked it in her bottom dresser drawer.



Meanwhile, I found a good job at a radio station. A year later I discovered the yellow shirt hidden in a rag bag in my cleaning closet. Something new had been added. Embroidered in bright green across the breast pocket were the words 'I BELONG TO PAT.'



Not to be outdone, I got out my own embroidery materials and added an apostrophe and seven more letters. Now the shirt proudly proclaimed, 'I BELONG TO PAT'S MOTHER.' But I didn't stop there. I zig-zagged all the frayed seams, then had a friend mail the shirt in a fancy box to Mom from Arlington, VA We enclosed an official looking letter from 'The Institute for the Destitute,' announcing that she was the recipient of an award for good deeds. I would have given anything to see Mom's face when she opened the box. But, of course, she never mentioned it.



Two years later, in 1978, I remarried. The day of our wedding, Harold and I put our car in a friend's garage to avoid practical jokers. After the wedding, while my husband drove us to our honeymoon suite, I reached for a pillow in the car to rest my head. It felt lumpy. I unzipped the case and found, wrapped in wedding paper, the yellow shirt. Inside a pocket was a note: 'Read John 14:27 -29. I love you both, Mother..'



That night I paged through the Bible in a hotel room and found the verses: 'I am leaving you with a gift: peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, for now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do, you will believe in me.'


The shirt was Mother's final gift. She had known for three months that she had terminal Lou Gehrig's disease. Mother died the following year at age 57.



I was tempted to send the yellow shirt with her to her grave. But I'm glad I didn't, because it is a vivid reminder of the love-filled game she and I played for 16 years. Besides, my older daughter is in college now, majoring in art. And every art student needs a baggy yellow shirt with big pockets.

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So many times we drown in despair, in worrying about the 'what ifs' and the shoulda, coulda, woulda. What we fail to realize is that God's presence in our lives is apparent in every thought, action & interaction. We know that the bible is armor against the enemy... but we must also acknowledge that love... loving one another, loving ourselves, and loving our Lord is our armor. These relationships, built on love, put a stronghold on the enemy's attempts to break us down and shatter our faith.

Take the little things in life and embrace them. Know that God uses the people in your life to minister to you as well, even if just in an action.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7

Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord our Healer

My daughter has had 6 surgeries on her right ear in 4 years. Within the past year alone, she’s had 3 of them… in Aug, Nov & May. She’s been through a lot physically and yet she hasn’t lost faith. She continues to believe that God will heal her of her ear problems and she will live a joyous, healthy life. During these times, I’ve asked friends and family to pray for her, played a healing CD for her, and asked my church to pray for her as well. Her last surgery was a success!! For the first time ever, Veronica has normal hearing!! Thank you Jesus!!!

… 5 months later we encounter a problem… she has a bad infection in her left ear… in her “good” ear. So far she’s been every week to the doctors, 3 weeks in a row, ear drops and a change of antibiotics. We pray that this doesn’t turn into the trouble we had with her right ear. Although she is brave and full of faith and reassurance, it is very difficult to grasp the fact that she has fallen ill again. And so we continue to pray. And so this article is written.

We know our God to be merciful and compassionate. We’ve read countless stories of His healings and miracles. We know that God is Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord our Healer. So the big question that has been asked is, knowing that He heals, why are some still plagued with illness?

The first thing we have to acknowledge is that God can and does heal. “for I am the LORD, who heals you” (Exodus 15:26). God’s will is to heal our physical body. He doesn’t want us to suffer with sickness and disease. One thing He asks of us is faith… faith in Him; Jehovah-Rapha. We might try to understand why but we must always remember that His ways are higher than ours. And in understanding this, we accept that God has full authority over all sickness and can choose to heal whenever and whomever He chooses. We must also understand that sometimes God allows us to have sickness so that will we look to Him for His strength and power. The sickness can teach us a valuable lesson about our faith.

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Let’s read that again… "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Do you hear how divine that is?! Our Lord is His strongest in our weakest moments. He does not leave us to wallow in our pain. He does not leave us to cower in our affliction. Instead, the Lord says that His grace is sufficient and far more than we can ever hope or imagine. He will free us of our ailments if we fully surrender ourselves to Him.

"It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees." (Psalm 119:71)

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us - they help us learn to endure." (Romans 5:3)

Why are some still plagued with illness? I know for my daughter it is because God uses these medical problems to strengthen her. It has drawn us closer not only to one another but also to God. We have experienced and learned so much in this time and one thing is for certain… we will only receive God’s mercy if we surrender to Him. We pray a little longer. Pray a little louder. Pray more often. We continuously thank God for all He’s given us and for being with us at all times, regardless of circumstance. We thank Him for bringing us through this storm, directing us to safety; steering my precious daughter to a healthier life.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
How beautiful these words are. How dear we hold them.

Wet Pants

Come with me to a third grade classroom..... There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, 'Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat.'

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap.

The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, 'Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!'

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk.

The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie.

She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You've done enough, you klutz!'

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, 'You did that on purpose, didn't you?'
Susie whispers back, 'I wet my pants once too.'

May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good..

Remember.....Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Each and everyone one of us is going through tough times right now, but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.


Prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another.


Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Where there is need, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. Amen.

A Six Year Old's Battle

Written by M. Mendonca

I was six years old, and it was a true battle. A steadfast wind swept over the ocean and ordered an army of waves to storm the beach as if it was Normandy in 1944. The waves crashed and receded; water lurked ever more closely to the castle walls. I had spent the entire afternoon skillfully constructing my masterpiece out of sand, just as Brunelleschi had spent years constructing his Florentine dome, and I refused to acknowledge the fact that the ocean could deliver a sweeping and fatal blow in an instant. There was a large outer wall with towers erected at each corner, a neat bridge made of palms which connected the barbican to the bailey, and a deep that stood majestically at the castle’s center. Surely, this beach had never seen a finer structure.

With futile efforts, I tried to save my castle from the wrath of the sea and began to quickly pile sand into a makeshift wall in an attempt to divert the water. However, each time I reached down to scoop another bucketful of sand onto the wall, the ocean crashed down and dissolved it in an instant. Eventually, the relentless waters reached the castle walls and began to undo the tedious work I had done. Within moments, my castle was gone without a trace, and all that was left was a smooth patch of sand where it once stood.

I felt terrible; all of my hard work was ruined. I looked out onto the ocean as the waves crashed upon the shore and the water wrapped around my feet as if it were mocking my pitiful act of defiance. Rather than giving up and accepting defeat, I resolved to try something new and innovative. I picked up my plastic shovel and began scooping large amounts of dripping wet sand into my plastic bucket. With the bucket full of sand, I walked across the span of the beach to the edge of the dunes and emptied it into a pile. Back and forth, I repeated the tedious work for what seemed like an eternity.

Eventually I had enough sand, and I started to craft a new castle with the same precision I used with the first one. A few more hours went by and a new castle lay in front of me, more majestic and gallant that the first with two towering keeps instead of one. After completing my architectural triumph, I looked at my creation with pride and then over at the treacherous ocean that was sending more waves crashing against the shore. Though the mighty ocean tried, it could not reach my castle walls as I had strategically placed an entire beach between us.

As my family left the beach that day, I looked back at my castle still standing safely distanced from the water’s reach. It was then I realized what determination and persistence could yield. To this day, whenever I feel frustrated and beaten, I remember the day when a headstrong six-year-old conquered the ocean, and thinking of that, nothing seems impossible.

=============================================================
Scriptures That Come to Mind
After Reading This Inspirational Essay...

Romans 2:7
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

Psalm 37:23-24
If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Matthew 17:20
"... I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Biblical Humor

It doesn't hurt to have a little biblical humor once in a while. :)

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?
A. Ruthless.

Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?
A. German Shepherds.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord.

Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden ?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.

Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.

Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?
A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.

Q. Which Bible character had no parents?
A. Joshua, son of Nun.

Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck.

PS. Did you know it' s a sin for a woman to make coffee?
Yup, it's in the Bible. It says... 'He-brews'


Friends are God's way of taking care of us.
Faith, Hope & Love -- but the greatest of these is LOVE.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Just for... I am...

*Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

*Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

*Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

*Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

*Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about
what you are going to be when you grow up, or
second guess every decision I have made where
you are concerned.

*Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me
bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to
fix them.

*Just for this afternoon, I will take us to
McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you
can have both toys.

*Just for this evening, I will hold you in my
arms and tell you a story about how you were
born and how much I love you.

*Just for this evening, I will let you splash in
the tub and not get angry.

*Just for this evening, I will let you stay up
late while we sit on the porch and count all the
stars.

*Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside
you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

*Just for this evening when I run my finger
through your hair as you pray, I will simply be
grateful that God has given me the greatest gift
ever given.

*I will think about the mothers And fathers who
are searching for their missing children, the
mothers and fathers who are visiting their
children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and
mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms
watching their children suffer senselessly, and
screaming inside that they can't handle it
anymore.

*And when I kiss you good night I will hold you
a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will
thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing,
except one more day.............

the Good-O-Meeter

Will & Grace

'To get something you never had,
you have to do something you never did.'


When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you,
but merely opening your hands to receive something better.


'The will of God will never take you where
the Grace of God will not protect you.'

Where My Inspiration Lies

Where Does Your Inspiration Lie?

As a child, my dreams were endless… Aaahh, to be a doctor, lawyer, mechanic (don’t ask lol), accountant, actress… to be rich, famous, a star in my own world! No wrongs. No worries. Everything good brought my way.

A little older, I realized I can still have these wishes but I have to work towards them. That’s when I started re-analyzing my goals… doctor – well, too much school for me. Lawyer – wasn’t really my aspiration but more my mom’s for me. Mechanic – lol – no… you get the point.

A few more years go by; I see that even with “a plan” my road is not going to be easy, regardless of the goal I try to accomplish. Welcome to adulthood.

This is, I’m sure, a cycle we’ve all gone through or are still going through. Decisions are made and re-made. Plans are set and rescheduled. But through it all, focus is not lost.

God has given me many skills, talents, blessings of which I intend to use for His will. I intend to serve Jehovah-ra-ah, the Lord my shepherd. My relationship with the most high God will set forth a path for my children to follow.

A path of love and salvation.
A path that can only be placed by our Lord and Savior.

My foundation in Christ will set an example for others. My steadfast devotion to our beloved Father will ignite a fire within others to seek the tranquility and unconditional love that He provides. My words, spoken or written, will inspire others to build upon His rock. My actions intended or not, will exemplify His righteousness.

I’ve been down many roads.
I’ve traveled near and far in life’s circumstances.
Some bitter sweet.
Some that should’ve been avoided.

But in my travels I have found the path I was meant to tread. The path truly intended for me. My walk in Christ.

My inspiration comes from Him.

John 15:5
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Isaiah 55:6-9
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Thankful

THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.


FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.


FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.


FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.


FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.


FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.


FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE


FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME


FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.


FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION


FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.


FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.


FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE PLENTY OF CLOTHES TO WEAR.


FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.


FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE!!!.

Stressin

The summer is coming to a close and the kids & I are starting to prepare for school... ordering uniforms, buying supplies, etc. It's also time for registration for soccer, dance, tennis, piano, you name it! Added to the other stresses that life brings (financial, home/living, work). Oh, and did I mention I'm registering for 3 more classes this semester?!

Well, with all that being said, at times my stress levels seem to sky rocket. It affects my eating, sleeping, demeanor, everything. When I feel the weight on my shoulders I constantly remind myself that these stresses are not for me to bare. I am to lay my fears and worries down at my Savior's feet. He will see me through my troubles and dispair.


Psalms 9:9
"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."

Psalms 55:22
"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall."

Philippians 4:6
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

1 Peter 5:7
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Acts 14:22
"strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said."

1 Peter 3:14
"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."

Deuteronomy 31:6
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

THANK YOU LORD FOR BEING MY SOLE PROVIDER!
MY LIGHT IN DARKNESS!!



Psalm 31:7
"I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul."

Psalm 7:17
"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High."

Insults, Rumors & Gossip

Article written for WeUsed2bu

“Did you hear? ...”
“You didn’t hear it from me but…”
“Someone told me that….”

We’ve all been there before, either saying it or listening to it. Gossiping, exchanging stories, talking about someone, whatever you want to call it. But what exactly did you get from it? Do you still see that person the same way, without judging them? Can that information be used to lift them up? Or did it damage their reputation? Hurt them? Or maybe hurt you?

… Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me…

We’ve all been here before too but how true is this statement? Let’s break this down:

Sticks and stones may break my bones… very true. That pain fades and the wounds eventually heal.

… but names will never hurt me… not true. Name calling or negative comments affect someone much longer than a cut, scrape or bruise. All it takes is for someone to say something negative, a sarcastic remark, discouraging word for us to be knocked down. It only takes one word to put a hole in your heart. For example, Karen Carpenter (from the popular 1970s duo, the Carpenters) died from anorexia at 32. Her obsession with her weight started after an article called her “Richard’s chubby sister.” 1 word had impacted her life and brought her to an early death.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that speaking badly to/about someone and gossiping, are sins. The bible clearly states that one of the steps we must take in order to stay rooted in His word is watching what or how we speak.

Proverbs 10:19
“Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

Proverbs 15:4
“Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”

Our mouth is a weapon to be used with God’s intention – to uplift one another! To speak the Word, give Him praise, and share our testimonies with others. He did not intend for us to use our words to hurt one another, rather as a sword to cut at the enemy’s attacks. In this time of battle we must choose our words wisely. As Christians it is our responsibility to uplift our brothers and sisters, sharing in the joys that our beloved Father has given us. Rejoice in the Lord! Speak of His goodness! Help bring others to Him, leaving all insecurities, negativity, and problems at His feet.

Proverbs: 16:24
"Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones".

Please read: Psalm 34:13, Psalm 39:1, Proverb 13:3, Proverb 15:4, Proverb17:20, Proverb21:23, 2 Timothy 2:16

Global Positioning

Show Me A Sign!

Just as God created trees, He created us to be rooted too. Rooted in His word. Rooted in His faith and love. Many are quick to question whether or not He's there for them. Many say, "Well, if God was there then why would he let that happen to me?" Sometimes we have to go through certain struggles in order to continue on the righteous path. Sometimes these struggles are used to humble us or remind us of the walk we should be taking as Christians. In order to truly survive these trials, we must be firm in our walk...

Ephesians 3:17
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,"

Colossians 2:6-7
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

... we must be planted on His rock.

Deuteronomy 32:4
"He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he."

Are you waiting for a sign to follow Our Heavenly Father? Look around you. See all that our Lord has created for us; all of the beauty and wonderment that surrounds us, from the rising of the sun to the setting of the moon. He is always with us. The Spirit is inside us, placed there by God at the moment of our salvation.

1 Corinthians 3:16
Romans 8:9
Ephesians 2:22
1 John 3:24

(prayer) When we look at your world, mighty God, we see how marvelous it has been created. When we look for your kingdom, we find that we have not lived as you and your Son Jesus have taught. Help us to create a kingdom on earth where unconditional love overcomes. Amen.

I Am A "Kept" Woman

You see, there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind,

but GOD kept me sane. (Isa. 26:3)

There were times when I thought I could go no longer,

but the LORD kept me moving. (Gen 28:15)

At times, I've wanted to lash out at those whom I felt had done me wrong,

but the LORD kept my mouth shut. (Psa. 13)

Sometimes, I think the money just isn't enough,

but GOD has helped me to keep the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid, etc.., (Matt. 6:25 -34)

When I thought I would fall, HE kept me up.

When I thought I was weak, HE kept me strong! (I Pet. 5:7, Matt. 11:28-30)

I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure you hear me!

I'm blessed to be "kept."

Are you...or do you know a "kept" woman?
If so pass it on to her to remind her she is "Kept."

Travel

My children are spending half of their summer vacation in Puerto Rico and leave early tomorrow morning.

Their clothes are washed and packed. Last minute items will be added to the luggages tonight. Travel bags (with things to entertain them on the plane) will be packed up tonight and everything will be put in the car before we end our evening.

It's the last night I will spend with my children until August.

No debates in the background as I make dinner.
No complaints about cleaning their rooms.
No "mommy, can I sleep with you?" from my daughter.
No "I love you." No kisses. No hugs.
No joking around or laughing at our silly ways.

I've said I can't wait for the kids' trip to PR... it's time for me to relax, take a break from my mommy duties. But, in reality, it's not the complete picture.

My kids are my life. I rise with them on my mind and I fall asleep the same way. I'm constantly wondering if they're ok, and if they have everything they need for their day.

I know they love visiting our family in Puerto Rico. I remember loving my visits as a child. But I'm going to miss them terribly!! They haven't left yet and I can't wait til they get back home!

Lord, you are in all of your creation. Protect and guide my children as they set out to travel. Make their ways safe and their homecomings joyful. Let them have your wisdom so that they make good and right choices in all the places that they go. Give them safe traveling companions and let them not be lonely. Amen.

The Company You Keep

It Is Better To Be Alone, Than In The Wrong Company.
Tell me who your best friends are, and I will tell you who you are.
If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl, but if you associate
With eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.
A mirror reflects a mans face, but what he is really like is shown by
The kind of friends he chooses. The simple but true fact of life is that
You become like those with whom you closely associate for the good and the bad.
The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve.
Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.
As you grow, your associates will change.
Some of your friends will not want you to go on.
They will want you to stay where they are.
Friends that don’t help you climb will want you to crawl.
Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream.

CONSIDER THIS:
Never receive counsel from unproductive people.
Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution,
Because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how to.
Not everyone has a right to speak into your life.
You are certain to get the worst of the bargains when you exchange ideas
With the wrong person.
Don’t follow anyone who’s not going anywhere.
With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it.
Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life.
Wise is the person who forfeits his life with the right friendships.

Happy moments, Praise God
Difficult moments, Seek God
Quiet moments, Worship God
Painful moments, Trust God
Every moment, Thank God

If you see people without a smile today, give them one of yours.
Choose to rise… Don’t settle… and go for your dreams.
And most of all, let God lead you in everything you do!

A Prayer For Love

Teach me to love, Lord, as You love,

Make it unconditional, honest, and kind,

To ask nothing back in return, Lord,

To encompass the whole of mankind.

May I offer my love without speaking,

May it radiate as it shines forth from me,

May it be seen in my face and my eyes, Lord,

May it be simple, sincere, and shame free.

Show me how to forgive, Lord, as You do,

To not burden another with guilt,

To not play the role of the martyr,

To be a rock on which trust may be built.

Make my love for others be greater by far

Than any love that is offered to me,

Led by the Spirit, Inspired of God,

As forgiving as Jesus...and free.

by Virginia (Ginny) Ellis